Bridge



Patented June 16, 1931 UNITED STATES- JOSEPH IB. STRAUSS, OFJCHIGAGO,ILLINOIS BRIDGE Application filed October 2am. sriaiivo. 671,322.

This invention relates to bascule bridges and has for its object toprovide a new and improved device of this description. The in ventionhas as another object to provide a new and improved means for supportingthe main span of a bridge. The invention has as a further object toprovide a new and improved construction of the main span forfacilitating the movement thereof to open and close the bridge. Theinvention has as a further object to materially cheapen the constructionof a bascule bridge. The invention has other objects which are moreparticularly pointed out in the following description. Referring now tothe drawings- Figure 1 is a iew showing one form of bascule bridgeembodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional View taken on line 33 of Figure 1,,with'parts omitted.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

Referring now to the drawings, I have shown a bascule bridge having themain span 1 provided with two separated trusses 2 and 3. These trussesare mounted upon the trunnions 4., The truss members adjacent to thetrunnions comprise four elements 5, 6, 7, 8. Two of these elements, 5and 6, meet or center at the trunnion 4;. The main span is sup ported bythe supports 9 and 9 on opposite sides thereof and out of the verticalplane of the trusses. These supports are provided with the laterallyprojecting supporting parts 11 and 12 each of which projects through thetruss members of its associated truss into the plane of the truss, thetrun- I .struction greatly facilitates the operation of 96 V nions 4being supported thereon in any desired manner. As herein shown, thetrunnions 4 are mounted upon the supporting pieces 11 and 12 and areprovided with bearings to permit the rotation of the truss to open andclose the bridge. The truss elements or members at the trunnion arearranged so as not to interfere with the opening or closing of thebridge, that is, so that they do not strike the supporting pieces 11 and12 as the bridge is lifted and opened. In

main span is opened and closed as shown in the construction shown thesesupporting pieces project towards each other but are separated from eachother.- The supports 9 are preferably provided at their base with thelaterally projecting parts 13 and 14 -which project into the plane ofthe trusses each' underlying its associated truss. It will thus be seenthat the supporting pieces 11 and 12 which support the trusses and themain span have means associated with them to permit them to takethelongitudinal and transverse forces coming upon them. Some suitableoperating mechanism is provided. In the 'constructionshown the member 8is provided on opposite sides with the two racks '15 and 16; A shaft 17extends through the trusses and is providedj'with the two pinions 18 and19 which engage the racks 15and 16.

Both' trusses may be provided with similar racks and pinions, as shownin the drawings, 7 the other set of racks being designated 15a and16aand the pinions'18a and 19a. The members 5 and7'of the truss at thepoint where the shaft passes therethrough is arranged soas to clear saidshaft in all the various positions of the trusses by reason of theirspanning the arcuate racks, that is, so that none of themwill strike theshaft 'asthe Fig. 1. V so The supports are'provided with the front posts9a and 10a which act to take the live load. These postsare connectedwith a suitable connecting member 20 which extends acrossunder the mainspan and vwhich is en- .gaged bythe main span when it is closed so as tocarry the live load and transmit it t the. front posts Qaand 10a. A

The double or twin rack and pinion cons Fig. 1, the-rectangularconstruction consists of the posts 9 and 9a withthe bottom connection:96 between them and the cross con- 16!? nection 90. The triangularconstruction is above the rectangular construction and in cludes theinclined member 96 connecting the top of the post 9a with the top of thepost 9.

I claim:

1. A bascule bridge comprising a main span having separated trusses,trunnions for said trusses, separated supports at the sides of said spanfor said trunnions, each support having a laterally projectingcantilever part which projects through the members of its associatedtruss to a position in the vertical plane of the truss, the trunnion ofthe truss supported upon said laterally projecting part.

2. A bascule bridge comprising a main span having separated trusses,trunnions for said trusses, a support for the trunnion of each trusslocated at one side of the vertical plane of said truss, a cantileverportion of said support projecting into the vertical plane of saidtruss, the truss having an open space to admit said projection, saidprojection supporting the trunnion of the truss.

3. A bascule bridge comprising a main span having separated trusses,trunnions for said trusses, a support for each truss located at onesideof the vertical plane of the truss, said support having laterallycantilever projecting parts at the top and at the bottom thereof, thelaterally projecting part at the top projecting through the members ofthe truss, the truss having an open, space to clear said projection, thetrunnion for the truss being carried by said projection, the projectionat the bottom projecting into the vertical plane of the truss andunderlying the same.

4. A bascule bridge comprising a main span having separated trusses, asupport for each truss outside of the vertical plane of said truss, acantilever projection on said support projecting through the members ofsaid truss into the plane of said truss, a fixed trunnion mounted onsaid support and a bearing connected with said truss in which saidtrunnion works so as to permit the truss to rotate on said trunnion.

5. A bascule bridge comprising a main span having separated trusses,trunnions for said trusses, two opposed disconnected supporting parts,one projecting through the members of each truss, the trunnions of thetrusses supported thereon and means associated with said supportingparts to permit them to take longitudinal and transverse forces actingupon them.

6. A bascule bridge comprising a truss, a trunnlon therefor, asupportlfor said trun- JOSEPH B. STRAUSS.

nion, the truss members of the truss adjacent l: the trunnion comprisingfourelements two

